How to Make Your Travels Smoother with Tech Gadgets

Last update March 14, 2017

Here’s a list of top tech gadgets to brighten your tourist or business travel and staying in a hotel.

1. Universal Plug Adaptor

First-time international travelers often get into a situation when upon the arrival to a different country they find out that they can't charge their phones due to a differet type of the plug. The solution, however, is very simple. You can get a universal plug adaptor in advance and use it anywhere you travel. Some of the adaptors may have USB charging ports, eliminating the need for taking additional phone adapters.

2. Power Bank

In simple words, it is a compact portable battery for recharging your electronic devices like phone or tablet in places, where there are no other means to do this. Many people use them even when they are not traveling in order to stay in touch with their clients or friends at any time. The powerbanks may come in various capacities, sizes, and shapes but share the same principle: they have a built-in battery and one or even several USB ports to charge your device and recharge the powerbank itself.

3. Sleep Headphones

Sleep headphones are a great item for travelers who can’t sleep in transport or hotel rooms because of the noise and light flashes. Usually, such headphones look like a casual headband with hidden pockets on each side for the detachable small speakers. The headbands are made of lightweight and soft fabric, that comfortably goes around your head. You can pull the headband down to cover your eyes and ears in order to block the light and muffle the noise, without squeezing your head or pulling your hair. Thus, when you take it off, it leaves almost no visible marks. The headphones can play the music from your phone or MP3 player via 3.5mm jack or Bluetooth. Overall, it’s a nice device for disconnecting yourself from the outer world on the red eye or while staying in a hotel in a noisy neighborhood.

4. Mobile Hotspot

A mobile broadband hotspot is a portable, battery-powered device that works as an autonomous Wi-Fi router by grabbing a signal from either Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G or LTE networks. Most of them are compatible with the widespread telecommunication standards and feature a slot for a SIM card or retransmitting the signal from the other hotspot, connected to the Internet. Thus, even if the resort you are staying in doesn’t offer an Internet access, you can simply buy a local SIM card or use your own to share the Internet with other people. By the way, some of them can even be used as a power bank to charge your phone or tablet as well.

5. Selfie Stick

Say whatever you want about them, they are still quite useful for snapping selfies or shooting a live event with an action camera. For travelers, we recommend looking out for the heavy sticks. Also, check out if their mounts are compatible with your phone or camera. In our opinion, the most useful selfie sticks are the ones with the adjustable vari-angle heads and remote camera controllers.

6. E-Reader

With all the love to the smell and feel of a printed book, the convenience of having a huge library inside such a compact device is still unrivaled. In addition to the standard reader functionality, many e-Readers also have such practical features like a web browsing or headphones port. That way, you can not only read books but also listen to your music, podcasts or audiobooks. Unlike tablets, the readers with e-ink technology work a lot longer from a single charge. Therefore, it’s an optimal device to kill time on your travels.

7. Streaming Stick or Streaming Box

These are very small digital devices that go into HDMI port of a TV set and enable it to show streaming videos from such popular services as Amazon Video, Netflix, Hulu, VUDU, Sling TV, and many others, provided that there’s a Wi-Fi Internet access. Such devices are very helpful when you are staying in a rented or hotel room where the prices for the satellite TV may go through the roof. Several streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Video still require a paid subscription but you can use your existing account to login. Also, some of the streaming sticks may come with a handy Bluetooth remote controller or even allow you to use your own phone instead.

8. Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones

While the usual headphones may help you isolate the noises around you to a certain degree, the headphones with an active noise cancelation function will muffle the ambient sounds altogether even with the music turned off. Therefore, you can wear them in a bus or a crowded office to cut out the distracting or annoying noises. Of course, you can listen to your music by connecting them to your mobile device via Bluetooth or 3.5mm jack, depending on the model. What’s more, due to a special cup design of most noise-canceling headphones, there’s no chance that people around you might outhear your music.

9. Trakdot Luggage Tracker

This is a relatively unique device that has been designed for people who often travel by air. As your luggage can be delivered to your destination by another plane, being able to track it will give you a peace of mind and confidence that it hasn't been lost or sent to another country. It’s a compact and lightweight tracker that you simply put in your luggage. Then, you can check the whereabouts of your luggage at any time on your phone or computer. That way you can also estimate how long it will take the service to deliver it to your destination or even a hotel room, saving you the trouble of making a round trip to the airport later.

10. LED Tactical Flashlight

When you have to light your way in the darkness, it may be safer to use a flashlight instead of a phone’s flash. Especially, if you are not sure whether you are in a safe city neighborhood. Also, if you are a camper or you often travel by sea, you may want to purchase a model that can beam the S.O.S. signal (just in case). We recommend a flashlight with an LED light source because it’s energy-efficient and more durable than the bulb types. Additionally, many tactical flashlights have an adjustable brightness level and a zoom focusing for making the light beam smaller and intense or larger but slightly dimmer.